Survival game movies and dramas have been very popular lately due to the success of the K-drama Squid Game on Netflix. This makes fans look for dramas with such themes and the Japanese entertainment industry has them. This time we will discuss 10 lists of the best Japanese survival game movies and dramas.
The premise and plot of the show with the theme of this survival game are simple, all with financial problems, playing games with the ultimate goal of winning money. If they lost, they would be shot or died. This is how films are based on Japanese survivor games like Squid Game.
Best Japanese Survival Game Movies and Dramas
1. Cinderella Game
Cinderella Game is a Japanese movie like squid game that tells about Haitani Sana, a girl in an idol group member. He follows the dream of his late older sister who always wanted to become a top idol.
But unfortunately, Sana’s idol group disbanded. He was then kidnapped and taken to an uninhabited island. There he must face a card battle.
If he wins a card battle against another kidnapped idol girl, he can become a top idol. However, if Sana loses… she will die. This film was released in 2016 and stars Yamaya Kasumi and Suruga Taro.
2. The Werewolf Game: Lovers
It tells of Ranko Takano, a girl who is willing to take part in a deadly game just to repay her family’s debt.
In a game that gathers only the strongest people who survived the previous Werewolf Games. However, a new system was introduced which made players start to get confused.
This is one of the best Japanese survival game movies released in 2017. The show stars Furuhata Seika, Saso Yuki, and Ikeda Junya.
3. As The Gods Will
The movie storyline follows a 2nd-year high school student named Shun Takahata living the life of an ordinary teenager.
But one day he is suddenly forced to participate in a series of child games such as “Daruma-san ga Koronda” with death as punishment for losing.
Without knowing who is behind the game, he has no other choice but to keep winning as the only way to protect himself and his childhood friend, Ichika.
Meanwhile, a troubled classmate named Takeru seems to be genuinely relishing the opportunity to get another student killed.
This Japanese death game movie was released in 2014. The series stars Fukushi Sota, Yamazaki Hirona, and Kamiki Ryunosuke.
4. Gantz
It tells about Kurono Kei and Kato Masaru who were summoned by the mysterious black world GANTZ. They continued to fight against the extraterrestrials and, as they continued to fight, they became stronger.
They couldn’t escape unless they killed their enemy, the Saint. Kei chooses to keep fighting to survive, but Kato Masaru hates a world driven by violence and refuses to go to war.
As the two friends find themselves facing each other in a continuous game of violence, a critical final choice must be made.
This is one of the best Japanese survival game movies released in 2011. It starred Ninomiya Kazunari and Matsuyama Kenichi.
5. Kaiji: Final Game
This story will follow Ito Kaiji who will change his life. The sensation was beyond anything he, or most people, had ever experienced.
However, this adventure is not without risks and dangers. He is given four games, all of which are challenges that include life-and-death situations.
This film has 3 prequel sequels, namely Kaiji (2009), Kaiji 2 (2011), and Kaiji: Final Game (2020). This Japanese movie like squid game stars Fujiwara Tatsuya and Fukushi Sota.
6. The Werewolf Game: Death Game’s Operator
It tells about people gathered by recruitment or kidnapping to take part in Werewolf Game. The participants had to put their lives on the line in the game, while the rich bet on the winners and losers of the game.
Masamune (Yuuki Ogoe) works as a game operator. He learns that high school student Yuzuki Natsume is a participant in the Werewolf Game.
Masamune once taught Yuzuki Natsume as a private tutor. He wanted to save her and he was willing to risk his life to do so.
This is one of the best Japanese survival game movies. It was released in 2020 and stars Ogoe Yuki and Nakajima Ken.
7. When I Kill Myself
Due to the high suicide rate among young people in Japan, the government conducted an experiment to uncover the reason behind the high suicide rate.
Children are then selected and placed in YSC facilities under constant supervision. At the age of 10, the children were then given a detonator with a red switch.
They were told if they pressed the button they would instantly die. Most of the kids are under experimentation, eventually pushing the button and dying.
This is one of the Japanese death game movies released in 2011. This tv show stars Mizusawa Erena, Sano Kazuma, and Koide Keisuke.
8. The Sacrifice Dilemma – Above
On the morning of the high school’s graduation day, a voice over the school’s intercom announces that “one hour later, everyone will die.”
But there is a way to survive. The students must offer a sacrifice. All the students become caught up in the survival game.
The Sacrifice Dilemma is one of the best survival game movies available on Amazon Prime. It was released in 2013 and starred Yamamoto Hikaru and Suga Kenta.
9. Liar Game
Liar Game is a Japanese survival game series that tells the story of Kanzaki Nao, an honest student who receives one hundred million yen.
One day, along with a card saying he has been selected to take part in the “Liar Game”. The aim of the game is to trick other players out of their hundreds of millions of dollars.
In the end, the winner got one hundred million, and the loser owed one hundred million yen. The next day, he receives notification that his opponent is his former teacher, Fujisawa Kazuo.
She goes to him, looking for help, but ends up being tricked into handing over the money. Desperate, he turned to the police for help, but they could do nothing.
However, he is informed about the mastermind of the con, Akiyama Shinichi, who will be released from prison the next day. Desperate, she goes to him for help.
This Japanese tv show survival game was released in 2007 and has several sequels Liar Game 2 (Japanese sequel) and Liar Game Episode Zero (Japanese side story).
10. Alice In Borderland
Arisu Ryohei is a lethargic, jobless, video-game-obsessed young man. Once he suddenly finds himself in a strange and empty version of Tokyo where he and his friends must compete in a dangerous game of survival.
In this strange world, Arisu meets Usagi, a young woman who runs games alone. After a dangerous game that tests Arisu’s limits, the two set out together to unravel one mystery after another as they put their lives on the line and confront what it means to live.
Alice In Borderland is one of the best survival game Japanese dramas and this is also a Japanese drama like Squid Game. It was released in 2020 with 8 episodes and is available on Netflix. This tv show stars Kento Yamazaki and Tsuchiya Tao.
Here are 10 lists of the best Japanese survival game movies and dramas that you must watch. Thanks for reading this article, I hope you find what you’re looking for. Have a nice day!
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